Talk-to-Myself-Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2010

My family tells me I talk to myself...

I prefer to think of it as "thinking outloud!"

Either way, here's what I've been saying...

- It's amazing what a difference some more

space and lotsa bright windows can make

- After a "moving break" it's back to school now.

Kids aren't really rejoicing, but they ARE kinda bored

- During the packing & unpacking I've been delighted to steal  

away & read old journals... Jesus' love and faithfulness is 
evident all through "the stories of my life!"

- If you don't write down the stuff God teaches you & tells

you... what in the world?  The GOD of the universe (and beyond)

in intimately involved in your life... and you're NOT keeping

a recored of it?  

- um... The GOD of all creation cares about me!

CRAZY!

- Happily I discovered a wonderful kindergarten website packed

full of all the FUN things little ones should be doing.... I've been

a little overly focused on academics with my little guys & sorta

forgot about the "fun" learning activities that makes childhood

what it is!  This site keeps me from racking my brain...cuz...

- Sometimes creativity can be so taxing on my brain & energy!

- So happy that it's fall. 
We're gunna go on a leaf hunt this week.

(now that we live on a street 
that has tons of trees! YAY!)

- My new neighbor gave me two 
HUGE mums for our entrance...

(thanks, Melissa) and so far 
I haven't killed them. (killing plants

is one of my accidental talents!)

- I miss going to High school football games

- Nope... I haven't been planning menus!  Shock!  But it's just

been too unpredictable around here. Eating out of the pantry & freezer

has been a funny experience (just ask my kids, they're always happy
to share the great stories of my homemaking skills or lack thereof!)

Smile!


- Knowing that Riley isn't gunna sleep at home in her bed
until Christmas time gives me a strange pinchie feeling
in my throat. 




- Reading an old classic book & 
putting it into practice






- What's got you "thinking out loud?"

My Weekend... of TEARS!

On Saturday we helped our oldest daughter move into the coolest
loft apartment as she begins a year of discipleship & hardcore
learning how to follow after Christ... aka "X-Min Academy."

     

We're super proud of her as she follows God's leading in her life...
but I'm not gunna lie... I cried.
On Thursday... several times.
On Friday... NINE times!  (that's ridiculous!)
But on Saturday, moving day, I got misty a few times in the morning,
but that's it.

True to form, I usually have a harder time BEFORE an emotional
event, but then enjoy God's grace & strength when it actually happens.
Many of you will tell me that I have no reason to cry because she's only
living 1/2 mile away & will still be a part of our church. But in all honesty,
I've been mourning the end of an era... called "her childhood."
However, she's a godly young lady & I wouldn't want to change a thing

about her.

Chilly wrote a beautiful blog about Mariah... here's the link if you're
interested in CRYING!

The Old & The New... Kitchen!

-Last Saturday we moved to our beautiful historic home in Detroit
- Many of you gave us some serious help... and it was so much fun!

- Some others of you are asking for pictures

- Here's a few that tell a snippet of the story of this past week

Kitchen... Before. This house was empty for a year or so.





The horrid wallpaper boarder has been painted over &
rewall papered SEVERAL times..
THAT was a pain.
(Wallpaper is probably made in Hades!)



(If I EVER even consider hanging wallpaper, please read
the following statement to me:

"Dear Netta, make a tight fist. Hold out your arm.
Now punch yourself repeatedly in the head with your
full strength until you remember how much you totally
 hate the entire wallpaper process!")






Primed & ready to paint

The doors were sanded, primed & painted in the grass
and then the garage.



And NOW...
A corner of the beautiful finished product!
(More to come... when I finish unpacking everything!)

Wordless Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010

Today, possibly at the very moment you're reading this, we're

closing on the purchase of our beautiful, historic home in Detroit!

But, I'm not posting any more pics at the moment.

Instead... just a few from a Labor Day Cook-out with friends

that happen to include a trampoline!

BOXES!

Gathering boxes to move is a sport for me!

Not having to buy boxes motivates me.

Knowing that reusing the old cardboard means

new change for me... So exciting!!!!

We move in 8 days.

Tomorrow, some friends are coming to help us Pack!

Not move, yet... just pack!

(Yes, you're jealous of our friends! Be very jealous!

They're A CONSTANT blessing!)

Until a couple of days ago we only had a VERY few boxes.

Then, the shameless dumpster diving & pathetically desperate

text messages were sent (to some of those same great friends).

Boxes have started to arrive! (Thanks, Erika!)

Also, this JACKPOT (pictured below) was discovered

behind Target! (Have I mentioned that I love that store!)

And, cloth carts of cardboard treasures

were discovered during a recent grocery shopping

trip. (below)

We grabbed so many of those treasures that sweet little Zoe

had to carry around the ones that didn't fit into the cart.

(below)

My house... (below) ugh...

But all for GOOD reason!

YIPPEE!!!

And, if you happen to drive behind a store or shopping center

and catch a quick glimpse of a brown-haired lady frantically

yanking boxes out of giant green dumpsters, and a car full of

children carefully ducking their heads so as not to be recognized...

just honk!!!

(and honk LOUDLY cuz that lady is probably shamelessly

talking to herself and saying, "YES! We hit the BOX jackpot!!!")

Moving for the 18th time

Moving kinda makes me giddy.

Change.

Packing.

Purging.

New.

Fresh start.

Since I went away to college I've lived in 17 different

places. Now, next weekend we'll be moving into my

18th. (If you're confused, please see this post)

Lived in 7 states.

Besides my childhood home (where my Mom still lives)

the longest I've had an address is 5 yrs.... a huge record.

Up until that, it was only 3 yrs.

I've filled the back of a red & white striped Suburban to

drive several states away,

carried dressers across a small college campus,

moved across the hall, or up to the next floor,

had a U-Haul, enjoyed professional packers...

etc..

Moved as a newly wed when all my stuff was brand new,

moved in the winter while it was snowing,

moved while 71/2 months pregnant,

moved with a newborn,

moved while my husband was outa the country and once

while he was outa state... etc...

What do I do first? Next?

1. Go dumpster diving for boxes

2. Clean out closets

3. Clean out weird cluttered corners

4. Pack stuff off that hangs on the walls

5. Use my organizer a lot MORE!

6. Adjust & readjust my expectations of myself

7. Adjust & readjust my expectations of situations

8. Continue to adjust & keep deciding to "just go with it"

My best suggestion is to just take a deep breath.

The important stuff really does get done.

Everything else will just fall into place...

or else it just doesn't need to be.

Smile!

Laugh!

Eat more convenience foods than usual.

And MOST importantly...

keep reading The Word & hanging with Jesus everyday!

Beautiful Colorado

Everywhere. In every direction...
beautiful, contrasting reminders of God's power & love!

(These are taken on my phone... so they'll just give you
an idea of the wonderful sites I've seen this past week.)

Denver International Airport